Director of Korean film "Paju" wins award at film fest in Australia

Poster of Korean film "Paju" [Myung Film Co. Ltd]

Director Park Chan-ok of film "Paju" has won the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) at the 4th annual Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA).

According to the film's distributor Myung Film on Thursday, "Paju" on Monday received APSA's NETPAC Development Prize, given to emerging filmmakers in the business and to nurture new and rising talent in within the Asian region.

APSA was first established in 2007 as a cultural initiative of the Queensland State Government in Australia. The ceremony brings together cinematic excellence and cultural diversity in the Asia-Pacific region as well the only awards program to broadcast documentary series.

"Paju", which stars Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun and actress Seo Woo, is about a forbidden love between a woman and her late sister's husband.

The romantic drama, which opened in local theaters in October of last year, has won various accolades at other film festivals such as the NETPAC Award at the 14th Pusan International Film Festival, the Special Jury Prize at 13th Deauville Asian Film Festival, as well as competing at the 9th annual Tribeca Film Festival and becoming the first Korean production to open the International Film Festival Rotterdam.

Actor Lee Sun-kyun also won the award for best male actor for his role in "Paju" at Spain's Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival held in March.

Director Park Chan-ok debuted in 2002 with the award-winning "Jealousy Is My Middle Name" and "Warm Swamp."

Reporter : Lucia Hong luciahong@
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@